ARIZONA BASKETBALL

Aaron Gordon’s mother: He will most likely enter the draft

Jan 29, 2014, 4:51 PM | Updated: 4:51 pm

Aaron Gordon’s freshman season with the Arizona Wildcats is going about as well as planned, with the five-star recruit starting and performing at a high level for the top-ranked team in the country.

A 6-foot-9 forward, Gordon is second on the team with 12.3 points per game but leads the undefeated squad in rebounding, pulling down 7.8 rebounds per contest. He’s shooting .488 from the field and blocking a shot per game. His only weakness — and it’s a big one — is free throw shooting, where Gordon is shooting a dismal 45 percent.

But his defense has been exceptional, and there’s no denying that without Gordon, odds are the Wildcats (20-0, 7-0) are not still undefeated and looking like one of the favorites to cut down the nets in Arlington, TX.

If all goes according to plan, that’s exactly what will happen. And then, Gordon will leave.

According to Tom Fitzgerald of SFGate.com, Gordon’s mother, Shelly Davis, says odds are Gordon will spend just one season in Tucson.

“You never know how that’s going to play out until the end of the season,” Davis said. “If everything goes as planned, he most likely will enter the draft. We’re OK with that. You only have so many jumps in your legs. You have to pursue it when you can.”

Davis went on to add that Gordon would like to be a college coach someday, meaning he’d have to earn his degree at some point.

But first, Gordon will take his shot at the NBA, and you could hardly blame him for being a “one-and-done” player if that is indeed the case. Unlike Grant Jarrett, who left for the NBA after a fairly nondescript freshman season, Gordon has generally been expected to be a short-timer in the Old Pueblo.

And if he can lead the Wildcats to a championship, it’s unlikely anyone will complain.

Arizona Basketball

Caleb Love and KJ Lewis were invited to the G League Elite Camp....

Nick Borgia

Arizona’s Caleb Love and KJ Lewis invited to G League Elite Camp, per report

NBA draft prospects Caleb Love and KJ Lewis, who played at Arizona, were invited to the NBA's G League Elite Camp, according to a source.

21 hours ago

Tyon Grant-Foster backs down a defender...

Arizona Sports

GCU’s Tyon Grant-Foster, 2 Arizona Wildcats invited to 2024 NBA Draft Combine

GCU's Tyon Grant-Foster and Arizona's Pelle Larsson and Keshad Johnson were among the prospects invited Friday to the 2024 NBA Draft Combine.

2 days ago

Caleb Love...

Kevin Zimmerman

Caleb Love left off early entry list, 3 other Arizona Wildcats eligible for 2024 NBA Draft

Pelle Larsson, K.J. Lewis and Jaden Bradley were the Arizona players on the early entry list for the 2024 NBA Draft. Caleb Love was not.

5 days ago

Tobe Awaka #11 of the Tennessee Volunteers...

Arizona Sports

Tennessee big man transfer Tobe Awaka lands with Arizona

The Arizona Wildcats are adding former Tennessee big man Tobe Awaka through the transfer portal, he told On3's Joe Tipton.

6 days ago

Dennis Evans...

Arizona Sports

Grand Canyon basketball lands Louisville transfer, former 4-star recruit Dennis Evans

Dennis Evans, a 7-foot transfer from Louisville, announced his commitment to Grand Canyon men's basketball on social media Friday.

9 days ago

Trey Townsend of Oakland...

Arizona Sports

Trey Townsend transfers to Arizona after NCAA Tournament run with Oakland

Trey Townsend will transfer from Oakland to Arizona. His commitment fills a hole at power forward for the Wildcats.

11 days ago

Aaron Gordon’s mother: He will most likely enter the draft